The Hufflepuff dormitories were made in such a way that even if they were underground the room still had some natural light. Little beams of sunlight flit through the windows of the 5th year dormitory.
One of these little rays hit Ted in the head, and he groaned when he opened his eyes.
Then he remembered what today was- the Slytherin/Hufflepuff game, so he got ready rather quickly.
"Ted, you decent?" Edith said through the door.
"Yeah," he said.
"You missed a button." She said pointing at his shirt.
"It's not like I'll be wearing it long," he looked around the dormitory, his corner of the room was the messiest as usual, but he noticed something strange, "Where's everybody else?"
"They actually got up at a reasonable hour."
"Wait, how long 'til the game?"
"Lean, actually sent me up to get you. You better get to the pitch quickly," then she handed him a sandwich, "Also eat. Don't eat it too quickly though or you'll have the hiccups, and bring the team down."
"You're the best!" he said, while giving her a hug.
She laughed, and pushed him off.
"What's the meaning of that?!" He teased.
"GO!" She yelled and pushed him out of the dorm.
Then he ran down to the pitch.
Andromeda was in the library, she'd placed herself by the window so she could hear when the game was over and then go find Gwen and Inaya's group. She also could get some work done.
Except she couldn't really focus. If Delwy had been there she would have blamed her lack of focus on him, but he actually enjoyed Quidditch. She supposed that it was a boy thing. He had offered to skip the match, but she told him that he didn't need her permission to go to a game. It was like he thought that she owned him. She supposed that that was a Delwy thing.
She took out the response she'd gotten from her uncle to her letter she'd posted a week ago:
Dear Andromeda,
I think you are on the right path again. I was always happy that you kept such good company.
Be wary of the choir boy, so as he doesn't put you in danger.
-A.P.B
You'd think that someone so wise would actually put useful things in their letters.
She looked down at the parchment in front of her. You'd think it was schoolwork, but that was all part of the ruse. She was writing something entirely for herself on that parchment.
Andromeda had realised that the conversation ahead was going to be difficult, so she thought it wise to have a document there with her so her information was best relayed.
She began writing:
Hello Gwendolyn Fawley, Inaya Shafiq and company.
I am sure that you are not—
She was startled by a voice outside:
"Welcome to the Hufflepuff versus Slytherin game!" the Quidditch announcer said.
She was so surprised by the voice that she'd made a huge line across the page. She spelled away the ruined parchment, and placed a new sheet in front of herself.
"My name's Bear Lanca, and I love Quidditch, and listening to people's relationship problems. So if you have any— come talk to me!"
She finally understood why Inaya always came back from Quidditch games ranting about the announcer.
"Now this game has the highest stakes I've ever seen! If Hufflepuff wins they'll be against Gryffindor in the finals!" he paused for dramatic flair, "If SLYTHERIN WINS… they'll be in the finals as usual and will probably win again."
This sounds like it'll be incredibly boring, Andromeda thought.
"First the Hufflepuff team," Lanca boomed through the microphone, and said the names of the players as they filled into the pitch, "Marcus Lean, Captain and keeper. He has gained both of these positions this year. Last year he was a chaser, his change of position is very strange. Was he waiting for this opportunity all along, I wonder. Iola Smith and Basil Jornis as beaters. I suspect that they are both still loyal to the old Captain, and see Lean's change in position for what it is: a poor attempt to emulate Richard Summerby."
After that he sped up, no doubt at McGonagall's request to stay on topic.
"Edward Tonks, Gunhilda Keddle and Lorna Ingols-Wild as Chasers— all new to the team, though I've heard that Tonks has been trying for a while to get— and Lisette Webb as Seeker."
Andromeda assumed that McGonagall had glared at him.
"She's so young, I'm sure everyone is wondering if making her Seeker was a good move, considering that last year Seeker, Drusilla Lufkin, is still at Hogwarts. She might not have been chosen since her loyalty still lies with last year's Captain, or maybe Lean thinks that Webb is just a better Seeker,"
He's quite invasive, Andromeda thought, and there have been other matches this year… does he just repeat gossip?
Her pondering was cut short as Lanca continued.
"Anyway, go Hufflepuff!" he yelled.
Andromeda could faintly hear the Hufflepuffs' cheers.
"Now, the Slytherin team," she had to admit that his enthusiasm was infectious, "Lor Fin Montague as keeper, Steve Laughalot, the new Captain, and Vasta Claire as beaters. Jilbert Gamp, Birch Travers, and Trevor Birches, (I'm going to definitely get them confused), as Chasers, and Miraphora Lowindew as Seeker!"
Miraphora was one of her dorm mates. She was surprised that Lanca hadn't made any comments about the Slytherins. Was it because he feared them? Maybe McGonagall was telling him to speed up a little? Or maybe there was some loyalty there?
Lanca describes the usual pre-game rituals: the Captains shaking hands and promising that they would play fair. Then the balls were released and the "fun" began.
"Gamp has the Quaffle and is making his way to the hoops, he shoots-Lean blocks! Passes it to Tonks who flies across the field, Smith blocks bludger sent by Laughalot. I've received intel from some students that Laughalot and Smith are paired for Herbology, whatever they are doing is going to fail, so keep an eye out for that— Oh, Tonks scores ten points for Hufflepuff!"
She heard the Hufflepuffs cheer faintly
"Gamp has the ball again, and seems to not be making any move to pass it to his teammates: Travers and Birches. They seem to be trying to get the Slytherins to chant, but the Slytherins don't seem to like this and are yelling at them to go back to playing. I wonder how Laughalot will react to his chasers not following his orders…
Laughalot scolds Travers and Birches—they ignore him."
He was clearly fishing for that…
Gamp tried to score four other times, but was blocked by Lean, every time.
It was strange to see Hufflepuff doing so well.
"Ingols-Wild gets cornered by Laughalot and Gamp, she's a newcomer so she'll probably lose the- she reverse passes to Keddle who shoots- TEN POINTS FOR HUFFLEPUFF!"
More cheering.
"Hufflepuff is in the lead twenty to zero,"
They kept scoring, by the end they were at sixty.
"Bludger aimed by Claire headed towards Tonks-
Smith blocks another bludger, that's the fifth this match, she's blocking them all! She truly is the most valued player this game!"
Andromeda didn't know much about Quidditch, but she was glad that she wouldn't have to have a serious conversation in the Hospital wing.
"Keddle's been hit by a bludger sent by Claire! She's been caught by Madame Hooch, thankfully, but the Hufflepuffs request a time-out."
That was unfortunate. At least she'd be able to focus on her text. She looked down at the page in front of her and found it empty. She'd been so immersed in the game that she hadn't done her work.
Curse you Bear Lanca! This is all your doing!
Ted and Marcus helped Gunhilda onto a gurney that was taken to the Hospital Wing by some of the teachers.
Iola was being comforted by Basil. He was telling her that it wasn't her fault. That he should have stopped the bludger.
"Okay, okay… Everybody get over here!" Lean said.
They all stood around Lean.
"We need to balance the teams out. Iola, Basil take out Gamp. He's the only chaser doing anything, so taking him out will level everything. Try to stay focused."
Ted cringed slightly, and Iola looked at the ground. The only reason Gunhilda was hit was because Iola got distracted by Lanca's praise. Ted was just surprised that she hadn't fallen off her broom swooning.
"Lisette keep an eye out for the Snitch ok."
She nodded weakly.
Madame Hooch came back and told everyone that Gunhilda was out for the game, but that she hadn't been injured too severely.
The time-out was over.
"Alright, everybody, Keddle's been sent to the Hospital Wing… She isn't too injured. So time-out is over— and back to the game!"
Now, she remembered why she was never allowed to do Quidditch.
She'd written about half of what she wanted to say, and now only needed to make her political opinions clear.
She wouldn't lose focus this time.
The Hufflepuffs didn't lose their lead, until Basil decided to get revenge on the Slytherins,(she assumed just as Lanca assumed), by taking Gamp out. Instead of weakening the team, it strengthened it; Travers and Birches no longer had an excuse for slacking off, and once they started, it was a sight to see according to Lanca. Was he to be trusted?
They had scored seven times, though.
Andromeda was still laser focused on her work.
"The Slytherins are now in the lead by ten points! It seems that Gamp was useless ! Travers and Birches or Birches and Travers are incredible!"
Now that was a bit mean to Gamp. He probably would have been better if Birches and Travers had actually participated in the game! Whenever we speak to each other, he seems—
"THE SNITCH HAS BEEN SPOTTED!" Lanca bellowed into the mic.
He then proceeded to describe a long chase after the Snitch. Birches and Travers took the opportunity to score three more times during it, like the true Slytherins they were.
"LOWINDEW HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH! SLYTHERIN WINS!"
She could hear the loud cheers coming from the pitch.
"The Slytherins won 250 to 60! They were in the lead by 190 points!
Iola Smith runs off the pitch followed by Basil Jornis, is love in the air?
Merlin, it seems it might! Steve Laughalot is KISSING MIRAPHORA LOWINDEW! Imagine how this will affect the team dynamic! I guess we'll see in the finals how this affects Laughalot's leadership! I can't believe this has happened-"
"That is quite enough Mr Lanca! The game is over, you may leave the pitch." McGonagall said over the microphone.
Lanca was very invasive. She had no idea her dorm mate even liked anybody, but that was to be expected since they weren't friends and she was a half-blood who only talked to the Quidditch team and Ravenclaws. Maybe she was wrongly sorted? It didn't matter to Andromeda.
She looked down at her paper. It was done, now she just needed to read it to them.
Inaya, Gwen, Edith, Mason and Ted were under the willow tree by the lake.
"Are you okay, Ted?" Mason asked.
"Yeah," Ted said, "It's just for a moment I thought we'd win."
"I think we all did."
"Well, it was still a lot of fun."
"Yeah, it was."
"Andromeda?" Gwen said.
Ted followed her gaze to Andromeda.
"Hello." She said.
Fun Facts about this Chapter that You Wouldn't Know Because You Didn't Read This on Ao3: I had so much trouble writing this chapter, I published two versions!
And now we're 3/4 of the way through! Hurray!
